Police fill stands to cheer, support son of late officer

From left, retired NYPD officers Rob and Vinni Pastroski of Commack, and their son Eric, 12, cheer on the North Babylon High School Bulldogs' Gregory Sesso (#74), during their game against Newfield in North Babylon on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Gregory Sesso's father, Larry Sesso, a former Sayville fire chief who worked full time as a Port Authority police officer at Kennedy Airport, passed away suddenly at age 40 in August. Photo Credit: Barry Sloan

The officers came from at least four states, some rising before dawn to meet in the parking lot before the game. Many donned "Team Sesso" T-shirts with "74" -- Gregory's number and the one his late father, Larry Sesso, wore when the Port Authority police officer and Sayville volunteer firefighter played football at Sayville High School.

A posting on a law enforcement Facebook page about Gregory by the teenager's mom and Sesso's ex-wife, NYPD Officer Theresa Callahan, led to Saturday's gathering.

The private Facebook page is for the nonprofit Brothers Before Others, which supports police officers and their families through fundraisers after deaths and fires and during illness. They also send flowers to honor every U.S. police officer killed on the job.

Rob Pastroski, 50, a retired NYPD officer who lives in Commack, said Saturday's fraternal turnout did not surprise him.

"It doesn't matter who you are or which department you work for," he said. "We all do the same job and go through the same emotions. We're here for each other. I know if my family needed help, everybody would come by and help us."

Gregory said after the game that the police officers' support meant a lot to him.

"It helps me, because it shows I have a lot of people backing me up," Gregory said. "I'm grateful for that."

Former Sayville Fire Department Chief Larry Sesso, 40, who worked full time as a Port Authority police officer at Kennedy Airport, died of a heart attack on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. Photo Credit: Sayville Fire Department